Brain activity linked to balance problems in Parkinson's disease
Official title: Neuromechanical modeling of postural responses: Cortical mechanisms of balance impairments in Parkinson's disease
Funded at Emory University · NIH-11160738 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project records brain waves and balance responses to uncover brain signals tied to balance problems and falls in people with Parkinson's disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2004 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $637,313 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD046922-17 |
| Project ID | NIH-11160738 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people with Parkinson's disease who have balance problems or a history of falls and who can safely stand for short testing sessions.
✕Less likely to help
People without Parkinson's, or those with medical or cognitive issues that prevent safe participation or standing, are unlikely to benefit from or be eligible for this work.
What this research studies
You will stand on a platform that gives controlled, gentle pushes while wearing a high-density EEG cap and sensors that record muscle activity. The team will capture brain and muscle responses on a millisecond time scale to see how your body loses and recovers balance. They will compare these patterns across people with Parkinson's to pinpoint brain activity tied to perception, thinking, and movement problems. The findings aim to connect specific brain circuit changes to the balance problems you experience.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help develop personalized treatments that improve balance and reduce falls for people with Parkinson's disease.
How similar studies have gone: The team’s prior studies have shown brain activity patterns linked to balance in Parkinson's, but using these signals as biomarkers for personalized therapy is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Emory University
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ting, Lena H — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Ting, Lena H
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Neuromechanical balance in Parkinson’s disease: how the brain controls posture
Researchers at Emory are studying how brain activity relates to balance problems in people with Parkinson’s disease to help develop personalized ways to prevent falls.
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This study is looking at how people with Parkinson's disease can improve their balance and reduce falls by trying out different practice methods, so they can learn to respond better when they lose their balance.
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Gut-brain clues in Parkinson’s disease: supplement to a large registry
A plant-wide supplement to an NIH program will enroll people with Parkinson’s, with and without GI symptoms, plus healthy controls, to study how gut function, brain signals, and sleep rhythms relate to Parkinson’s symptoms.
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Gut-brain connections in Parkinson’s disease: how the gut and environment shape symptoms
A Mayo Clinic team is studying how gut problems, environmental factors, and genetics together influence Parkinson’s disease and its GI symptoms to find biomarkers and better understanding of the disease.
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Gut-brain communication in Parkinson’s disease for better symptoms and daily life
This project enrolls people with Parkinson’s disease and healthy controls to build a big registry and study how gut function, brain signals, sleep, and circadian rhythms relate to PD symptoms.
-
Gut microbiome and Parkinson's disease: how gut bugs relate to symptoms and progression
A multi-year study will look at gut bacteria and related markers in people with Parkinson’s disease to understand how the gut-brain connection may influence symptoms and progression.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.